Shoe support



June 25, 1935. F E, HQQPER 2,005,720

SHOE SUPPORT Filed Feb. 12, 1952 Fig.1.

4V VE/V TUE.

Patented June 25, 1935 UNlTED STATES" P T N j 2,005,720 SHOE SUPPORT Fred E. Hooper, Swampscott, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Paterson, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey 7 Application February 12, 1932, Serial No. 592,600

' t 27 Claims. (01. 12126) This invention relates to means for supporting shoes and the lasts on which they are mounted (the term shoe being generally used hereinafter as inclusive of the last), and has more particular reference to means for supporting a shoe tour of the shoe.

forwardly of its heel-end portion against pressure applied on its bottom face. The invention is herein illustrated as embodied in supportingv means designed for use in a bed-lasting ma" chine, but it is to be understoodthat it is, not thus limited in its applicability.

An object of the invention is to provide improved supporting means so constructed as to afford a firm support for each shoe without danger of excessive pressure on any portion of the upper materials. Tothis and other ends, in accordance with one feature of the invention, the supporting means herein shown comprises a novel arrangement of supporting members that are relatively movable to conform substantially to the contour of each shoe so that the pressure on the shoe is distributed with substantial uniformity over a considerable area. In the construction illustrated there are provided different sets of members for supporting res ectively the opposite side portions of the shoe, i. e., portions at opposite sides of a median plane extending heightwise and lengthwise of the shoe, the members of each "set being arranged in contiguous relation to one another in a series extending-lengthwise of the shoe and being mounted for turning movements relatively to one another about an axis also extending lengthwise of the shoe to conform substantially to the con- As herein shown each set comprises three such members, although it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to that particular number. It is a further object of the invention, in the manufacture of some kinds of shoes .provided with toe tips, to avoid pressure on the upper forwardly of the tip line, where excessive pressure might cause the box toe solventto penetrate to the outer surface of V the upper, and accordingly, as illustrated, the construction and arrangement are such that the supporting pressure is applied to the shoe main- 1y along its instep portion. w

In accordance with further features of the invention provision is afforded for various movements of the supporting means for still better conformity to the shape and position of each shoe, the construction shown being such that the above-mentioned sets of supporting members are movable as a unit about axes extending widthwise, heightwise and lengthwise of the shoe. More particularly, as illustrated, the sets of members are supported on a holder which can tip against yielding resistance. about an axis extending widthwise of the shoe in response to pressure of the shoe'on the members, the holder 5 being mounted on a stem that can turn against yielding resistance about an axis extending heightwise of the shoe, and the stem is mounted in 'a post that canv swing to a limited extent about an axis extending lengthwise of the shoe. 10 It is to be understood that in the. provision thus afforded for different movements of the supporting means the invention, in some of its novel aspects, is not limited to a shoe rest having different setspf supporting members constructed and arranged as hereinabove described.

The above and other features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combinations oflp'arts, will now be more particularly described by reference to the accompanying drawing and pointed out in the claims.

. In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a View mainly in side elevation .of shoe-supporting means constructed in accordf ance with this invention, together with other portions of a bed-lasting machine to which this means is applied; p

Fig. 2 shows the shoe-supporting means in elevation as viewed from the right in Fig. .1; and

Fig. 3 is a section on the line IIIIII o f Fig. 1.

' The invention is illustrated as applied to a bedlasting machine of; a well-known type, characteristic features of which are disclosedin Letters Patent No. 1,018,477,granted on February 27,

1912 upon an; application of .Matthias Brook. '35

Such a machine includes in its organization a heel post I!) on which is;-mounteda spindle 12 for engaging the heel end of the lastin its spin- I dle hole, and toe-embracing wipers I4 for wiping the toe-end portion of the upper into lasted po- 40 sition. The wipers are supported on a toe head; notlshown in detaiL-by which they are moved upwardly and downwardly in operating on the shoe, the toe head being also adjustable len'gthwise of the shoe. A machine ofthis typefurther includes a device, commonly known heretofore as a toe rest, for supporting the shoe forwardly; of its heel-end portion against pressure appliedon its bottom face,'this device being movable upwardly to jack the shoe in the operation of the machine by a'bracket I6-that controls it.

For purposes of this invention there isherein disclosed novel means for supporting the shoe forwardly of its heel-end portion, the construction showncomprising twosets of members or holder 30 supported as hereinafter described, and each end block I8 is secured on its supporting pin 24 at one side of the lug 26 by a small pin 32 7 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. ,The twoblocks 20 and 22 of each set are mounted to turn on the pin 24 between the lugs 26 and .28 by which theyv are confined against movement lengthwise of the pin, each block 20 being so formed. that a portion thereof extends over the lug 26 so as to contact with the end block l8. It will be understood that each pin 24 is held against lengthwise movements in'its bearings in the lugs26 and 28 by the block I 8 fast on one end of the pin andby -ahead on the other end of the pin in engagement with the v lug 28. Each of the blocks 18, 20, 22 is shaped to present a supporting face that is somewhat concave laterally of the shoe, and the arrangement of the two sets of blocks is such as to pre sent a hollow toreceive the shoe, the supporting faces of the blocks extending laterally of the shoe inlocations opposite the top of the shoe. over each set of blocks is a pad 34, which may be made of felt and is preferably secured'in any suitable manner, as by a screw, to the middle block 25; and overboth the pads 84 is a'cover 36, preferably of leather, fastened to each block 28 by a screw 38. The cover 36 is slit at its corners to permit its end portions to be readily turned downward, and these end portions are secured to the side portions of the cover by wirehooks 40. The cover thus mounted ten'ds to retain the several blocks approximately in the relations to one another. that they assume in operating on a shoe, while permitting them readily to turn relatively to one another in response to pressure of each M shoe thereon so as'to conform substantially-to the contours of shoes of different-sizes and shapes. In the manufacture of some kinds'of shoes that are provided with toe tipsit isdesirableto avoid any considerable pressure on the top of the forebers I8,'20, 22 with the pins '24 are inclined lengthwise of the shoe, when in operative positions,"sims ilarly to the instep portion of the shoe. In order that the supporting means may readily conform in this respect to shoes of different sizes. and

shapes, the holder 30 is pivotally mounted. on a pin 42 extending laterally of the shoe and sup mountedin a post 48.

mined by the screw, the latter being adjustable to vary that position. It is contemplated that preferably the screw 50 will be so adjusted that initially the two sets of supporting members will extend lengthwise of the shoe in directions somewhat more nearly horizontal than the slope of the instep, so that portions of the sets of members that are farthest from the toe end of the shoe will press initially on the shoe, as a result of which the sets of members will be tipped into substantially parallel relation to the lengthwise inclination of the instep by pressure of the shoe thereon at one side of the axisof the pin 42, as

illustrated in Fig. 1. It will be understood that the .springs'52 are comparatively light springs and do not oppose any great resistance to such tipping of the holder 30 under control of the shoe.

- The stem 46 is vertically'movable in the post 48 and carries at its lower end a screw 54 the 'head of which is arranged to rest on the post at the lower end of the recess in which the stem is mounted, the screw being adjustable to vary the height of the stem and the parts supported therethe stem 46 and the parts supported thereon in a central position while permitting such turning movements as may be required by differences in the contours or positions of different shoes. For still better accommodation to different shoes, the post 48 is pivo-tally mounted on a pin 50 to swing or tip laterally ofthe shoeabout an :axis extending lengthwise of the shoe, the pin being sup ported in lugs on a block 62 which is adjustably mounted on a plate 64 fast on the bracket I 6.

The post is thus free to swing, but only to :a lim ited extent, its movements in opposite directions being limited by shoulders 66 at its lower end in engagement with faces 68 on'the block 62. The

plate 64 is so formed as to provide a guideway' along which the block 62 is adjustably movable lengthwise of the shoe. To maintain the block 62 in adjusted position there is provided a pawl HI fast on a rod '12 which is mounted to turn in bearings in the block, the pawl being arranged to engage ratchet teeth 14 on the plate 64. A spring 16 in the block 62 presses the pawl against the ratchet teeth, and'for lifting it from the teeth when it is desired to move the shoe-supporting means forwardly there is provided a handle l8 fast on the rod l2. It will thus be seen that the meansfor supporting the forepart of the shoe is adjustable lengthwise of the shoe independently of the toe head previously referred to as adjusts able in that manner in bed-lasting machines of the illustrated type. I

From the foregoing description it will be evident that there is provided by this invention shoe-supporting means so constructed as to'adjust itself readily in accordance with the shape and position of each shoe and to conform substan-',

tially to the contour of that portion of the shoe where the supporting pressure is applied, so as to afford a firm support without excessive pressure in any location, the illustratedv construction being further such that the shoe is supported by engagement "therewith rearwardly of thetip line for the purpose hereinbefore explained.

Having described the invention, What lpclaim as new and desire to securebyLettersPatent" of the United States is:

1. A device for supporting a shoe forwardly of its heel-end portion against pressure applied'on its bottom face, said device comprising different 'sets of members'arranged to support respectively the-opposite side portions of the shoe against pressure applied on the shoe bottom, the members of each set being arranged in substantially contiguous relation to one another. in a seriesex tending lengthwise of the shoe. and being mounted'for relative'tur'ning movements to conform substantially to the contour of thesh'oe.

2.-A device forsupportingashoe forwardly .of its heel-end portion against pressure applied on its bottom face, said device comprising different sets of members arranged to support respectively the oppositeside portions of the shoe against pressure applied on the, shoe bottom," the mem-. bers of each set being arrangedin aseriesextending lengthwise of :the shoe and being mounted for relative turningmovements about a common axis to conform substantially to the contour of the shoe.

. 3. A device for supporting ashd' forwardly of its heel-end portion againstpressure applied on its bottom face, said device comprising different sets of members for supporting respectively the opposite side portions of the shoe, the members of each set being arranged in substantially con-. tiguous relation to one another in a series extend: ing lengthwise ofv the shoe with their shoe-supporting facesextending laterally of the shoe and being mounted for turning movements relatively to one another and relatively I the members of the other set about an axis extending lengthwise of the shoe ,to coniormqsubstantially :to the contour ofthe shoe. 7

4. A, device for supportinga shoe forwardly of its heel-end portion against pressure applied on its bottom face, said device comprising different sets of members for supporting respectively the opposite side portions of, the shoe-the members of each set being arranged in substantially contiguous relation to one another to pre'ss on the shoe over a substantiallylcontinuous area-extending laterally of the shoe and being mounted for relative turning movements in response to pressure of the shoe thereon toperrnit them to assume relative positions in substantial conformity to the contour of the shoe.

6. A device for supporting a shoe forwardly of its heel-end portion against. pressure applied on its bottom face, said device comprising two sets of blocks arranged to-support respectively the opposite side portions of the shoe against pressure applied on the shoe bottom, the blocks of each set being arranged in a' series extending lengthwise of the shoe and being mounted for.

lengthwise of the shoe to permit .themtofadjust themselves in substantial conformity to the con-' tour of the shoe, and a flexible cover for transmitting the pressure of the blocks to the shoe.

7. A device for supportingia shoe forwardly of its heel-end portion against pressureiapplied 'on its bottomface, said "device comprising different sets of members arranged to support respectively the. opposite side portions of the shoe against pressure applied on the shoe bottom, the mem-v bers of each set being arranged in a seriesextending lengthwise of the shoe and being mounted for relative turning movements to conform substantially to the contour of the shoe, apad of yieldable materialmounted'. on each set of members, and a flexible 'coverextending over both pads for engagement with the'shoe. I 8. A device for supporting a shoe at its instep portion against pressure applied on its bottom face, said device comprising different sets or members for supporting the shoe respectively at the oppositesides of. its instep portion, the mem-[ bers of each set being arranged in a series; extending lengthwise of the instep and being relatively movable laterally of the shoe to permit them to adjust themselves .in substantialcon formity to the contour of the shoe. 7 i

.9. A device for supporting a shoe at its instep portion against pressure applied .on its bottom to permit them to adjust themselves in substantial conformity to the contour of the shoe.

10. A device for supporting a shoe at-itscinstep portion against pressurexapplied onits bottom face, said device comprising two .sets of blocks arranged to present ahollow to, receive the shoe permit them to adjust themselves in substantial conformity to the contour of the shoe.

11. A device for supporting a shoe forwardly of its heel-end portion against pressureapplied on its bottom face, said device comprisingdifferent sets of members for supporting respectively the opposite side portions of the shoe, the members of each set being relatively movable to conform sub-' stantially to the contour of the shoe, and a holder supporting said different sets of members and mounted for movement about an axis extending laterally of the shoe.' I V f 12. A :device for supporting a shoe forwardly of its heel-end portion against-pressure, applied onits bottom face,'said device comprising differ-- ent sets of members for supporting respectively the opposite side portions of the shoe, themembers of each set being relatively movable to cori form substantially to the contour of the shoe, a holder supporting said different sets of members and, mounted to tip about an axisextending lat:

erally ofthe shoe, and spring means controlling said holder and againsttheresistance of whichit is movable about said axisinresponse to pressureof the shoe on the supporting members.

13. A device for supporting a shoeforwardly of its heel-end portion against pressure applied on its bottom face, said device comprising different sets of members for supportingxrespectively the opposite side portions of the shoe, the members .of each set being relatively movable to con form. substantially to'the contour of the shoe,

' a holder supporting said different sets of mem-,

bers and mounted for'mov'ement about an axis extending laterallyof the shoe, a spring tend.- ing to move said holder in one direction about its axis, and adjustable means arrangedto act in opposition to said spring to determine variably the position of said holder.

v 14. A device for supporting a shoe forwardly of its heel-end portion against pressure applied on its bottom face, saiddevice comprising dif-' shoe at the opposite sides of the instep, the members of each set being relatively movable to con form substantially to, the contour of the shoeya holder supporting said different sets of members and mounted for movement about an'axis'extending laterally of the shoe, and yi'eldable means for maintaining said holderin position for portions of the sets of members that are farthest response to pressure of the shoe on the members to incline the sets of members similarly to the lengthwise slope of the'instep.

I 16. A device for supporting a shoeat its instep portion against pressure applied-on its 1 bottomfac e, said device comprising a'shoe rest mounted for movement about an axis extending laterally of the shoe and having members rela tively movable to conform substantially to the contour of the instep portion of the shoeQand spring means for maintaining said shoe rest in position for the portion thereof that is farthest from the toe end of the shoe to press initially on the shoe, the shoe rest being movable about its axis against the resistance of said spring means to a position inclined similarly to the slope-of the instep in response to the pressure of the shoe thereon.

17. A device for supporting a shoe forwardly of its heel-end portion against pressure applied on its bottom face, said device comprising a shoe rest arranged to act on the shoe forwardly of its heel-end portion and mounted for movement about an axis extending laterally of the shoe, a I

spring tending to move said shoe rest in one direction about its axis, and a stop cooperating with saids'pring to determine the normal position of the shoe rest and adjustable tovary that position.

18. A device for supporting ashoe forwardly of its heel-end portion against pressure applied on its bottom face, said device comprising a shoe rest arranged to act on the shoe forwardly of its heel-end portionja stem supporting said shoe rest and mounted to turn about an axis extending heightwise of the shoe, a post in which said stem is mounted, and a leaf spring fastened to said stem and arrangedto act on said post to maintain the stem and the shoe rest normallyin acentralized position, the shoe rest and stem being movable about said axis against the resistance of the spring to conform substantially to the contours of difierentishoes. a I

.19. A device for supporting a shoe at its instep portion against pressure applied on its bottom face, said device comprising a shoe rest having different portions arranged to support-the shoe respectively at theopposite sidesof the instep, theshoe rest being movable about an axis extending heightwise of the shoe to conform substantially to the :contours of difierent shoes; and

springmeans arranged normally to centralize the shoe rest with respect to movement about said axisbut yieldable .to permit such movement.

20. A device for supporting a shoe forwardly of its heel-end portion against pressure applied on its bottomface, said-device comprising a shoe rest arranged to act on theshoe forwardly of its heel-end portion, and a post supporting said shoe rest and so mounted as to permit it to swing rel-.

atively tothe shoein' one direction or the other rest arranged to act on the shoe forwardly of its heel-end portion, a post s'upporting said shoe 7 rest and'free to swing in one direction orv the other about an axis extending lengthwise of the shoe in response to the action of the shoe on the;

shoe rest, andfa support for said post having means for limiting its swinging movements when there is no shoe in engagement with the shoe .rest.

22. A device for supporting a shoe forwardly of its heel-end portion against pressure applied on itsbottom face, said device comprising a shoe rest arranged to act on the shoe forwardly of its heel-end portion and mounted for tipping movement about anaxis extending widthwise of the shoe, and a member on which the shoe rest is thus mounted, said member-beingmovable about an axis extending heightwise 'of the shoe for posttioning the shoe rest differently in accordance with the contours of different shoes. I

23. A device for supporting ashoe forwardly of its heel-end portion against pressure applied on its bottom face, said device comprising a shoe rest arranged to act on the shoe forwardly of its heel end portion and so mounted as to permit it to adjust itself to the shoe about an axis extending widthwise of the shoe, and a member supporting said shoe rest and so mounted as to permit the shoe rest also to adjust itself to the shoe about an axis extending heightwise of the shoe.

' 24. A device for supporting a shoe forwardly of its heel-end portion against pressure applied on its bottom face, said device comprising a shoe rest arranged to acton the opposite side portions of the shoe forwardly of its heel-end portion and mounted for movement about an axis extending widthwise of the shoe, a stem on which the shoe rest is thus mounted, said stemQbeing movable about an axis extending heightwise of the shoe,

25. A device for supporting ashoe forwardly of its heel-end portion against pressure applied on its bottom face, said device comprising a shoe rest arranged to act on the opposite side portions of the shoe forwardly of its heel-end portion, a member supporting said shoe rest and movable about an axis extending heightwise of the shoe, and a support for said member movable about an axis extending lengthwise of the shoe.

26. A device for supporting a shoe forwardly of its heel-end portion against pressure applied on its bottom face, said device comprising a shoe rest arranged to act on the opposite side portions of the shoe forwardly of its heel-end portion, and means for supporting said shoe rest so constructed as to permit the shoe rest to adjust itself to the shoe about each of two axes extending respectively heightwise and lengthwise of the shoe.

27. A device for supporting a shoe forwardly of its heel-end portion against pressure applied on its bottom face, said device comprising a shoe rest arranged to act on the opposite side portions of the shoe forwardly of its heel-end portion, and means for supporting said shoe rest so constructed as to permit the shoe rest to adjust itself to the shoe about axes extending respectively widthwise, 10

heightwise and lengthwise of the shoe.

FRED E. HOOPER. 

